BYU Basketball Set to Wrap Up Homestand Against Morgan State
Hey there basketball fans! The BYU basketball team is gearing up to close out its season-opening homestand with a perfect record. The 3-0 Cougars are all set to take on Morgan State at the Marriott Center. This game marks only the second meeting between these two programs, with the last face-off dating back to 1995 when BYU secured a solid 110-69 victory against the Bears.
Morgan State, with a 2-2 record, is ready to bring their A-game to this matchup. The stage is set, and it’s going to be an exciting showdown!
Here’s the lowdown on how to catch all the action:
Location: Marriott Center
City: Provo, Utah
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. (MT)/9 p.m. (ET)
TV/Stream: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)
Let’s take a look at the probable starting lineups for both teams:
BYU (3-0)
G – Trey Stewart | 6-2 | Junior
G – Trevin Knell | 6-5 | Redshirt-Junior
G – Spencer Johnson | 6-5 | Senior
F – Noah Waterman | 6-11 | Senior
F – Fousseyni Traore | 6-6 | Junior
Morgan State (2-2)
G – Kamron Hobbs | 5-10 | Junior
G – Wynston Tabbs | 6-3 | Senior (East Carolina transfer)
F – Will Thomas | 6-6 | Junior
F – Myles Thompson | 6-7 | Senior (Saint Francis, Pa. transfer)
C – Christian Oliver | 7-0 | Junior (JUCO transfer, East Los Angeles College)
What’s the Buzz about BYU Basketball?
BYU is on the verge of opening a season with four consecutive home games for the first time since 2010-11. This season’s team has been turning heads, climbing to the No. 16 spot in the KenPom ratings after a dominant 105-48 win over Southeast Louisiana. It’s been a while since BYU has been in the top 20 KenPom ratings, and the fans are loving it!
The Cougars have been delivering on both ends of the court. Their defense has been rock solid, holding two of their first three opponents to less than 20 points in the first half of games. On the offensive front, BYU is embracing its three-point shooting identity and is currently tied for first nationally in three-pointers made per game, averaging 13.3 threes per game.
Star guard Dallin Hall is back in action, and head coach Mark Pope has confirmed that Hall is 100% fit and ready to go. However, the team is still missing UC Irvine transfer Dawson Baker, who they hope will make a comeback in December. Additionally, Charlotte transfer Aly Khalifa was sidelined in the last game due to an undisclosed injury.
Trevin Knell, the redshirt junior guard, has been leading the charge for BYU in scoring, averaging an impressive 14.7 points per game.
Meet the Morgan State Bears
Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, the Morgan State Bears are part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Picked fourth in the preseason MEAC poll, the Bears have had a decent start to the 2023-24 season with a 2-2 record. However, their victories have come against non-Division I opponents, and they’ve faced tough losses against Division I teams like Arizona and Fresno State.
The Bears are currently on a westward road trip, making their way south to play in the Cancun Challenge next week in Mexico. With 14 newcomers on the roster, including notable East Carolina transfer guard Wynston Tabbs, the Bears are navigating the challenges of college basketball in the modern era.
Wynston Tabbs, who began his collegiate career at Boston College, is making his presence felt, averaging 11.8 points in his first year with the Bears.
Defensively, the Bears have struggled to contain the three-point shooting of their opponents, ranking 316th in the nation in three-point defense and allowing opponents to shoot 38.3% from beyond the arc.
So, there you have it! The stage is set for an epic showdown between BYU and Morgan State. Stay tuned for all the action and let’s see who comes out on top!
This article was written by a basketball enthusiast and BYU insider. Catch all the latest updates on BYU in the Big 12 Conference on social media and stay connected with the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader.